Skimmer net apparatus

Abstract

A skimmer apparatus has a handle, a net-bottom-rod at a right angle to the handle, offset from the axis of the handle and joined rigidly to an extension of the handle, a movable frame rotatable about an axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle, a slider translatable on the handle, a linkage mechanism joined to the movable frame and to the slider rotating the movable frame about the axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle, and net material joined to the movable frame and to the net-bottom-rod. Moving the slider away from the net employs the linkage mechanism to rotate the movable frame past the net-bottom-rod, such that the net is turned inside out, facilitating divesting material captured in the net.

I claim: 
     
       1. A skimmer net apparatus, comprising:
 a handle having a first and a second end and a length having an axis; 
 a net-bottom-rod having a length with an axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle, offset from the axis of the handle by a depth dimension; 
 a rigid coupling joining the net-bottom-rod to an extension of the handle; 
 a movable frame having a shape enabled to secure a net, with a width and a length, the movable frame rotatable about an axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle; 
 a slider implemented on the handle, translatable in a direction of the axis of the handle; 
 a linkage mechanism joined to the movable frame and to the slider, such that translating the slider along the handle rotates the movable frame about the axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle; and 
 net material joined to the movable frame along the shape defining the net extending to the net-bottom-rod; 
 wherein with the movable frame in a horizontal position forward of the handle, the net is implemented between the shape of the movable frame and the net-bottom-rod, enabling capture of material in the net by manipulation of the handle, and wherein moving the slider in a direction away from the net employs the linkage mechanism to rotate the movable frame about the axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle, past the net-bottom-rod, such that the net is turned inside out, facilitating divesting material captured in the net. 
 
     
     
       2. The skimmer net apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a fixed frame in the shape of the movable frame, the fixed frame rigidly joined to the extension of the handle, such that the movable frame in a horizontal position surrounds and locates onto the fixed frame, providing the fixed and movable frames in a common position. 
     
     
       3. The skimmer net apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the a rigid coupling joining the net-bottom-rod, joins rigidly to a front edge of the fixed frame. 
     
     
       4. The skimmer net apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a locking mechanism usable to lock the slider to the handle in a variety of different positions. 
     
     
       5. The skimmer net apparatus of  claim 4  wherein one of the variety of different position in which the slider may be locked to the handle is the position where the movable frame is in a horizontal position forward of the handle. 
     
     
       6. A method for emptying a skimmer net without hand contact, comprising:
 positioning a net-bottom-rod at a right angle to and offset from an axis of a handle having a first and a second end and a length, with the net-bottom-rod rigidly attached to an extension of the handle; 
 pivoting a movable frame having a shape defining a top of the net, with a width and a length, about an axis at a right angle to the extension of the handle; 
 imposing net material joined around a periphery of the movable frame and the net-bottom-rod, providing the net with an open top defined by the movable frame and a fixed bottom defined by the net-bottom-rod; 
 imposing a linkage mechanism between a slider on the handle and an offset from the movable frame, such that retracting the slider on the handle rotates the movable frame downward around the axis at a right angle to the extension of the handle; and 
 moving the slider along the handle away from the extension of the handle, causing the movable frame to rotate about the axis at a right angle to the extension of the handle, past the fixed net bottom held by the net-bottom-rod, inverting the net to be inside out, and emptying any material collected in the net. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  further comprising implementing a fixed frame in the shape of the movable frame, the fixed frame rigidly joined to the extension of the handle, such that the movable frame in a horizontal position surrounds and locates onto the fixed frame, providing the fixed and movable frames in a common position. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising joining the net-bottom-rod rigidly to a front edge of the fixed frame. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  further comprising imposing a locking mechanism on the slider, the locking mechanism usable to lock the slider to the handle in a variety of different positions. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein one of the variety of different position in which the slider may be locked to the handle is the position where the movable frame is in a horizontal position forward of the handle.